An Ant's Best Friend

5/22/2013

Aphids are tiny, soft bodied insects that suck the sugar-rich fluids from plant hosts. In doing so they damage the plant, by causing stress to the plant in directly removing plant sap. In addition, they excrete a sugary substance, called honeydew, which can cause a fungus to grow on and harm the host plant. Some aphid species inject a toxin into plants, which distorts growth. A aphids attack parts of plants like leaves and shoots and reduce their ability to thrive and grow.

And where there is sugar, there will be ants.

Many ants eat the honeydew that the aphids secrete. They farm the aphids, as humans farm “cattle” protecting them from predators like lady bugs, even going so far as to destroy their eggs.

When a host plant is depleted of nutrients, the ants will carry their aphids to new food sources. Some species of ants care for their aphids during winter. The ants carry the aphid eggs to their nest sites and tuck them away in the winter months. Then, in the spring they take them to a host plant.

The ants are not as generous caretakers as one would think.When environmental conditions trigger the aphids to develop wings , should food sources decline, or populations become too dense, ants have been observed tearing the wings from aphids before they can become airborne and leave them. But who looks out for the plants, shrubs , and homeowner?

ABOUT US

Killingsworth is your one-stop source for pest control, lawn care, carpet care, water restoration, heating & air conditioning and a wide range of other residential services. Our technicians and exterminators proudly serve Charlotte and the surrounding areas with world class customer service! Our customer service is second to none. If we say we'll be there at 9am, our folks know that 9:01 is unacceptable!